The Colorado Driver Education Permit

The driver education permit is for teen
drivers 15 years to 15 years and 6 months of age. This permit is good for three
years from the date it is issued. Prior to applying for a permit the teen
driver must complete the classroom part of an approved driver education
course. This course should be completed within 6 months before applying
for the education permit. When applying for the driver education permit, the
teen must complete and submit form DR2460, an Affidavit of Liability and
Guardianship. After the driver education permit is issued, the holder must
complete a driver education course consisting of behind the wheel training.

This training can be a 6 hour
behind the wheel training course from an State of Colorado approved
school.

If there is not an approved school
offering a minimum of 20 hours of road training per week located within 30
miles of the teen drivers residence, then 12 hours of training with a
parent, guardian or a qualified permit supervisor is allowed. The teen
driver must also turn in a written driving log that shows a minimum of 50
hours of driving time before applying for a driver license.

10 of the logged hours must be
nighttime driving.

If the teen driver is receiving
instruction from a parent they must complete 12 hours of behind the wheel
driving in addition to the 50-hour log.

The Colorado Driver Awareness Permit

The driver awareness permit is available to
teen drivers 15 years and six months old to 16 years of age. The applicant must
provide an affidavit of liability and guardianship by filling out State form
DR2460 and presenting this form during application. In addition to these
requirements, the teen driver must also present proof that they have completed
an approved four-hour driver awareness program. This permit is good for three
years from the date it was issued.

Like the driver education permit, this permit
must be held by the teen driver a minimum of twelve months before applying for
a State of Colorado driver license. During the course of driving with the
driver awareness permit, the driver is only allowed to drive with the person
that signed the DR2460 liability and guardianship form until they reach the age
of 18.

The Colorado Minor Instruction Permit

The minor instruction permit is available to
teen drivers from 16 to 21 years old. Like the other permits it is valid for three
years from the date it was issued and it must be held for 12 months before
applying for a driver license. The applicant must provide an affidavit of
liability and guardianship by filling out State form DR2460 and presenting this
form during application for the minor instruction permit.

During the course of driving with the minor
instruction permit, the teen driver is only allowed to drive with the person
that signed the DR2460 liability and guardianship form until they reach the age
of 18.

Required By All Permit Applicants

Every applicant under the age of 18 must
provide proof of identification through a birth certificate or other certified
forms of identification. A Social Security number is required along with an
Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship. The new teen driver must also pass a
vision and written test before any type of permit can be issued.

Driving Curfew

For the first 12 months, teen drivers under
the age of 18 are not allowed to drive between 12 midnight and 5 am except for
the following exceptions:

The driver is accompanied by a
parent, guardian or a licensed driver 21 years of age that has held a
valid driver license for at least 1 year is present.

The driver is driving to a school
sanctioned activity or school and the school doesn't offer transportation.
The driver must have a signed statement from school officials with the
event date(s).

The driver is driving because of work.
The driver must have a signed statement from employer.

The driver is driving because of
an emergency.

The driver is an emancipated minor
and the parents have not canceled the license

Financial Responsibility and Minimum Liability
Insurance

The State of Colorado requires all owners of
registered vehicles to carry a minimum liability insurance policy. The minimum
requirements are listed below:

$25,000 per person in an accident

$50,000 for bodily injury per
accident

$15,000 for property damage to
others.

The amounts listed above are legal minimums,
you may want to increase your coverage for added protection.